P. M. Taj

P. M. Taj
Born	January 3, 1956(1956-01-03) Calicut, Kerala, India
Died	29 July 1990(1990-07-29) (aged 34)
Occupation	Playwrite, script writer, Actor, Director
Language	Malayalam
Nationality	India
Genres	Fiction, Humour, Non-fiction

Puthiyara Maliyakkal Taj (Malayalam: പി. എം. താജ്) (3 January 1956 – 29 July 1990), popularly known as P. M. Taj, was an Indian creative writer, actor, screenwriter, and director in Malayalam theatre.^[1] He was a prominent cultural figure in Kozhikode. Taj wrote many plays during his short span of life and won several awards including the Sakthi Award, instituted in memory of the progressive Malayalam writer Cherukad, and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award twice.

Early life

P. M. Taj was born in a typical middle class family in Kozhikode, Kerala as the eldest son of P. M. Alikoya, a businessman, and K. T. Asiya. He has three siblings; Iqbal, Jabeen, and Yasmin. He was also a nephew of the dramatist K. T. Muhammed.

Taj's education was mostly in Kozhikode. He attended the Sri Gujarathi Vidyala for his primary education and then studied at Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College for his higher education. During his school and college days, Taj won several awards in various cultural evets. He also had an active participation in college politics. After graduation he worked as an editor for two years in Yuvathara, a magazine published by DYFI. His debut drama was Perumbara, published in 1977. He married Bichu in 1986 and they have of two sons - Sonal and Vishal.

Selected works

His most famous plays include: Kudukka Athava Vishakkunnavante Vedantam, Kanallattom, Ravvunni, Pavathan Nadu, Perumbara, Mary Lawrence, Thalasthanathuninn Oru Vaarthayumilla, Kurukan Kunjaammante Vaal, Perumkallan, Priyapetta Avivahidhan, Chakram, Aalmarattam, Ambalakaalla, Uthram Thirunallinte Kalpana Pole, Ennum Ennum Priyapetta Amma, and Agraharam.

Myths and folklore had an influence on Taj, but he used them to send a different message in a modern context. Some of his characters like, Ravunni, become part of a sad and bitter tale about globalization.

Films

• Uyarum Njan Nadake (1985)
• Atham Chitira Chothy (1986)
• Kurukkan Rajavayi (1987)
• P.C. 369 (1987)
• Njan Piranna Nattil (1985)
• Bali (1991)

Awards and recognitions

• Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1982 for Kudukka the gospel of hungry man
• Cherukaad Smaraka Shakthi Award in 1983
• Akilendhya Nadaka Award in 1983
• Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy Award in 1989 for Paavathan Naad
• Calicut University took Perumbara as reference book in 1990
• Kerala University took Kudukka The gospel of hugry man as reference book in 2011

References

1. ^ "P.M. Taj, playwright of our times". The Hindu. July 30, 2008. http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/30/stories/2008073052010300.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2011. 

• Borne artiste. Indian Express. August 11, 1990. Calicut.
• "A journey through history". The Hindu. August 11, 2003. http://www.hindu.com/lf/2003/08/11/stories/2003081101190200.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2011. 
• Mega Jyothisudhan kshanika jeevitham. K.F George. Malayala Manorama. Aug 28, 1990. Calicut.
• Dhuranthangal irannu vaagiya oru kalaakaran. Madhyamam. Aug 11 1990. Caliciut.
• Neru Kanda ee Kannukall porullarinja ee hridhayam. K.S. Hariharan. Deshabhimani. Aug 3 1990. Calicut.
• Staff Reporter (July 26, 2006). "Theatre festival in memory of P.M. Taj". The hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/26/stories/2006072611200300.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2011. 

• "Best of theatre on show at festival". The Hindu. March 28, 2011. http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/28/stories/2011032861040500.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2011.  The Hindu. Monday, March 28, 2011
• "Taj theatre fete begins". The Hindu. July 27, 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/27/stories/2010072756730300.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2011.  The Hindu. July 27, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2011
• "taj akalathil annanjupoya thejwala". Deshabhimani. July 30, 1999. 
• A.K Ramesh (August 5, 1990). "Aa nakshthram veennu poyirikkunnu". Deshabhimani. 
• A.R Mohanan (July 29, 1991). "taj ninte vellicham mangiyittilla". Kerala Kaumudi. 
• "ormakil niranja taj". Malayala Manorama. July 29, 2006. 
• "tajinte rachanakal vimochanathinte ithu savageetham". Deshabhimani. september 01 1990. 
• K.S Hariharan (August 4, 1991). "ravunniyudey chiri". Deshabhimani. 
• K. T. Muhammed (July 25, 2004). "p.m taj enna nadaka prathibha". mathrubhumi. 
• "janakiyanataka prasthanathinte chithanyadharayil taj smaranna". Deshabhimani. July 31, 1993. 
• "nagarathil ormakal niraye taj". Malayala Manorama. July 28, 2006. 
• M. N. Vijayan (July 29, 1991). "taj kavivargathinte oru adayallam". Deshabhimani. 
• Muralitharan Parayanjeri (August 13, 1997). "taj ninte kaalam theaterinte vasanthamayirinnu". Prathibham. 
• Sudeer Ambalappad (July 26, 1996). "taj -oru prathbhasam". Calicut Times. 
• T.K (July 29, 1991). "taj kandhadharshiyaya nadakakrth". Deshabhimani. 
• sree (July 19, 1993). "tajiney pole taj maathram". Times. 

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 3, 1956
Place of birth	Calicut, Kerala, India
Date of death	July 29, 1990
Place of death